Running back Todd Gurley will lead the offense for Georgia. / Dale Zanine, USA TODAY Sports

by Eddie Timanus, USA TODAY Sports

by Eddie Timanus, USA TODAY Sports

The Front Seven, unlike Ziggy, does not play guitar (times p.m. Eastern).

1. Let's Dance: No. 16 Clemson used last season's opening win against Georgia as a springboard in a solid campaign that ended in an Orange Bowl victory. A repeat of that triumph against the No. 12 Bulldogs - on the road this time - is a major challenge for the Tigers, whose aerial attack has a lot of holes to fill. QB Cole Stoudt got some live game action in relief of Tajh Boyd, but the departures on the other end, most notably Sammie Watkins, will prove more difficult to replace. WR Adam Humphries is the most accomplished of the returning pass catchers. The Tigers also need a go-to tailback, possibly senior D.J. Howard, to emerge. But the sledding might be tough against Bulldogs' LBs Ramik Wilson and Amarlo Herrera. Georgia fans are hoping for the monster season denied them in 2013 when the injury bug seemingly became contagious. TB Todd Gurley will be at the forefront if his reconstructed knee holds up. QB Hutson Mason should benefit now from his emergency service when Aaron Murray went down last year, but his big worry this week will be Tigers' DE Vic Beasley and LB Stephone Anthony. (5:30/ESPN)

2. Space Oddity: No. 13 LSU and No. 14 Wisconsin enter their opening contest in Houston with launch questions. The Tigers are likely to use both sophomore Anthony Jennings and freshman Brandon Harris at QB. The Badgers have an incumbent in the person of Joel Stave but might nevertheless hand the keys to Tanner McEvoy, at least for a test drive. All that said, both offenses are geared for ground control. Melvin Gordon is ready to be Wisconsin's lead TB, and Corey Clement should be able to help. The Tigers are even deeper in the backfield, with TBs Kenny Hilliard and Terrence Magee joined by touted recruit Leonard Fournette. Names you're likely to hear a lot as the offenses pound the rock are Badgers' LB Marcus Trotter and LSU D.J. Welter. (9/ESPN)

3. Fame: Reigning Heisman winner Jameis Winston and No. 1 Florida State open the 2014 campaign where they hope to end it, in Arlington, Texas. Famous Jameis and Co. will be challenged by Oklahoma State, which hopes that playing in a stadium another set of Cowboys calls home is a good omen. Unfortunately for the collegiate Cowpokes, they'll be quite young and facing a Seminoles' squad with next-level talent at every position group. The Cowboys do have a couple of somewhat proven assets in their corner in QB J.W. Walsh and TB Desmond Roland, but DE Mario Edwards is just one of a wave of FSU defenders who could make their night very long. Winston, meanwhile, will likely make extensive use of WR Rashad Greene and TE Nick O'Leary while establishing some younger ball handlers. LB Ryan Simmons will center the Cowboys' defense, which will also feature a lot of new starters. (8/ABC)

4. Golden Years: As devastating as the "kick six" was for Crimson Tide faithful, the result might just have been a one-year hiatus in a period of dominance. No. 2 Alabama sets out on another championship journey in Atlanta against West Virginia. Like LSU and Wisconsin, there's uncertainty at QB for the Tide - and it really doesn't matter much. Blake Sims and Jacob Coker are likely to see the field in this opening act, and both are almost sure to move the offense given the talent that will be surrounding them. TBs T.J. Yeldon and Derrick Henry as well as WR Amari Cooper don't need much of a crease to turn a routine handle into a big play, and the Mountaineers haven't exactly been defensively sound of late. The hope for WVU is to make it a shootout. QB Clint Trickett at least has a deep TB rotation behind him, but solving S Landon Collins and the Alabama secondary without giving the ball away is asking a lot. (3:30/ABC)

5. Young Americans: No. 6 Ohio State was hoping this date with Navy in Baltimore would launch a playoff push and start the Heisman campaign for QB Braxton Miller. The former remains a possibility, but Miller's season ended before it began thanks to a shoulder injury. The Buckeyes' offense now is in the hands of redshirt freshman J.T. Barrett, who will rely heavily on a talented but largely inexperienced TB unit that could feature Ezekiel Elliott and Rod Smith. The Midshipmen defense will be at a size disadvantage at the point of attack, but FS Parrish Gaines could help in run support. It's the Navy triple option that could be its equalizer. With veterans like QB Keenan Reynolds and FB Noah Copeland making the reads, it will be up to a youthful slotback platoon to make things happen at the perimeter. Ohio State DT Michael Bennett will be instrumental in slowing the Navy ground game, especially in short-yardage situations. (noon/CBSSN)

6. Under Pressure: No. 15 Southern California has made some ill-timed news as its opening date with Fresno State approaches. It will likely come as a relief for new coach Steve Sarkisian and the Trojans to finally take the field and put the Josh Shaw incident behind them. There's a lot to like on the offensive side, with QB Cody Kessler and WR Nelson Agholor expected to connect early and often and TB Buck Allen providing solid ground support. They must watch out, however, for Fresno State S Derron Smith. The Bulldogs won the Mountain West last year but had to bid farewell to QB Derrick Carr. Among his possible replacements is Duke transfer Brandon Connette, but Brian Burrell, more of a pocket passer, remains in the mix. WR Josh Harper is the top returning target. The Trojans' defense was a liability at times last season, helping to prompt the change in leadership, but DE Leonard Williams and LB Hayes Pullard form a good foundation. (7:30/Fox)

7. Changes: Concluding the weekend is the Monday night Atlantic Coast Conference tilt of Miami (Fla.) at league newcomer Louisville, both hoping to move closer to the top 25 with a victory. The Hurricanes will count on a big season from TB Duke Johnson, who showed plenty of flash before his 2013 campaign was cut short by injury. If true freshman QB Brad Kaaya handles the starting assignment he earned well, WR Stacy Coley could also emerge as a top weapon. They'll be opposed by a largely retooled Cardinals' defense that will count on LB James Burgess to hold down the middle while veterans and newcomers alike adjust to new positions. The formidable shoes of Teddy Bridgewater will be filled by sophomore QB Will Gardner, who inherits returning coach Bobby Petrino's stats-friendly passing scheme. Unfortunately, the absence of WR DeVante Parker (foot) for an extended period robs him of a proven playmaker. TB Dominique Brown will help, but he'll have to steer clear of 'Canes' LB Denzel Perryman. (8/ESPN)